Longbow

"This guy..."

At home, while his mother, Madam Wang, was cooking, Lin Yin quietly pulled aside the bamboo blinds by the window.

When he saw the figure outside finally leave, he didn't feel the slightest bit of relief.

Li Sihhu was known as the Smiling Tiger. His moods were unpredictable, and he was ruthless. Plenty of people had lost their homes and families because of him. How could Lin Yin not worry when the man had set his sights on him?

Especially with the Black Scorpion Gang behind him. They were the most fearsome presence in all of Langshi Town.

Just when life had begun to look promising, trouble came one after another. The urgency in Lin Yin's heart grew stronger by the moment.

"I have to get my Vajra Stake Technique to Minor Accomplishment as soon as possible!"

He made up his mind to spend more time practicing lately. Learning the Vajra Stake Technique had significantly increased his strength and eased the deficiencies in his body. If he reached Minor Accomplishment... Lin Yin felt a faint stir of anticipation.

"If my strength keeps growing... perhaps..."

A glint of chill flashed in Lin Yin's eyes. It never hurt to be wary of others, but he couldn't guard against danger day and night—especially when it came to a vicious, narrow-minded man like Li Sihhu, who would take revenge over the slightest slight.

With a man like that watching him, Lin Yin could hardly eat or sleep. If he could, he might yet...

The rich aroma of food, mingled with the savory scent of pork, wafted beneath Lin Yin's nose and brought his thoughts back to the present.

After eating his fill, he gave his mother a few brief reminders, then hurriedly pushed open the back door and began practicing his Stance Skill.

Night had fallen deep.

Lin Yin stood with his feet parallel, spaced about two or three foot-lengths apart, toes turned inward. He slowly lowered himself until his thighs were parallel to the ground.

His knees stayed behind his toes, forming a Horse Stance. He held it for about a quarter of an hour.

His gaze sharpened. He settled his weight between his legs, lowered his shoulders and elbows, and held his hips as if sitting without quite sitting, keeping his body upright without leaning forward or back.

He repeated the sequence, flowing into several more sets of movements, gathering his strength in his heels, then in his arms. After completing the sets:

[Heaven rewards diligence; Will achieve something]

[Vajra Stake Technique: Entry (10/100)]

A subtle, almost imperceptible warmth flickered through his limbs and torso, then vanished. In an instant, it drove the chill that had clung to him from his body.

Lin Yin's eyes glimmered.

Since easing the deficiencies in his body, his Stance Skill proficiency had advanced day by day. At this rate, he would probably reach Minor Accomplishment in about a month.

His thoughts settled somewhat, but Lin Yin didn't dare pause for even a moment. If he could, he naturally wanted to make faster progress.

The leaves beside the thatched hut rustled in the night wind, while muffled shouts rang out like the groans of muscles colliding beneath fists and palms.

Three days later, at dawn.

Lin Yin sat up from his bed, feeling refreshed. He lifted the grass curtain and froze for a moment. The cramped front room was empty; his mother was nowhere to be seen.

A steaming bowl of porridge sat on the table. Beside it lay a cloth-wrapped bundle of vegetable buns, giving off a faint fragrance.

Lin Yin quickly washed up, ate two buns, and saved the other two. Then he washed the dishes and was about to head out when Madam Wang came hurrying back, her head wrapped in a cloth and her back bent.

"Yin'er..."

Seeing the two buns on the table, Madam Wang looked anxious. "Your mother's already eaten. You'd better eat these two while they're still hot."

Without waiting for him to object, she picked up the buns and shoved them into Lin Yin's arms.

"Mother..."

Lin Yin furrowed his brow.

These past few days, as he practiced martial arts, he had become increasingly aware of how strained their household finances were. His mother had been busier and busier, sometimes working late into the night. Her once sturdy frame had grown more stooped, and she had become thinner and thinner.

He saw it all and worried deeply.

"Your mother really did eat. I just had a big, oily bun in the street. The juice in it was so fragrant!"

Madam Wang broke into a bright smile, her eyes drifting as though she were still savoring the oily flavor. As she spoke, she insisted on stuffing the two buns into Lin Yin's arms.

"Training in martial arts is no easy thing. How can you have any strength if you don't eat your fill?"

His mother muttered, then seemed to remember something and began rummaging in her pocket.

"Take this money and buy some meat at the Market. We can't go without meat at home...

"There's a little less this time. In a few days, once your mother has delivered all the cloth we have at home, we'll have a proper meal together."

Her rough palm brushed past his hand. The warm Copper Coins, some whole and some odd, added up to one hundred and sixteen wen. Lin Yin stared at the old woman before him.

Madam Wang seemed not to notice her son's feelings. She nudged him along and practically "drove" him out the door.

"Your mother has work to do. Hurry and go to the Market!"

The old, battered wooden door closed, hiding the weary face still covered in smiles.

A faint sound from behind the door, like a stomach rumbling, made Lin Yin freeze mid-step.

He drew two deep breaths, then strode toward the Market.

At a meat stall, Lin Yin's brows knitted together as he stared in disbelief at the wooden sign.

"Old Man Li, this... why has the price of meat gone up again?"

"Alas, it's the Meat Market. The cost of getting meat for our stalls has gone up. There's nothing we can do about it."

At the stall, an old man in hemp clothes gritted his teeth and bought half a jin, muttering that his little grandson needed to eat some meat.

Beside the stall, Lin Yin looked down at the Copper Coins in his hand, his expression darkening. He had meant to buy half a jin, but after a moment, he bought only two liang and left.

Those Copper Coins, every last one, had emptied his mother's savings. Practicing martial arts was the most important thing, but Lin Yin knew he had to make a change.

At the very least... at the very least, he couldn't keep relying on his mother alone.

Lin Yin hadn't come out just to buy food. He was also looking for an opportunity. If he could find work, all the better; at least it would ease his mother's burden.

As he walked, he asked around for shops that needed strong laborers.

While Lin Yin was going from place to place, a shout caught his attention.

"Finest bow in the world! Don't miss your chance as you pass by!"

"Today's our shop's opening day. Anyone under sixteen gets a Full Moon Bowstring for free!"

"Free?"

Before he knew it, Lin Yin had stopped outside the newly opened shop. Quite a crowd had gathered there.

Apart from a few elderly people, women, and children who had come to watch, several burly men stood at the front. One of them was arguing with the shopkeeper.

"What kind of joke is this? A Two-stone bow for someone under sixteen?"

"The world is full of wonders. There might be people born with Natural Divine Strength. Besides, this bow of mine is finely made, with materials to match. Naturally, anyone who wants it for free needs to have some strength."

"Heh!"

The big man folded his arms, a cold smile spreading across his face.

Though he looked rough and brawny, he had only just turned eighteen. Born to a family of hunters and familiar with bows, he had put his full strength into it and barely managed to draw the Two-stone bow. And now the shopkeeper was saying the offer was only for those under sixteen.

"I say you just don't want to do business!"

He slammed the longbow in his hand down onto the stall in front of the man, then turned to face the crowd gathering around them and cupped his hands.

"Let the capable prove themselves! If anyone under sixteen can draw this bow, I'll pay out of my own pocket and give him ten arrows!"

The moment those words were spoken, the whole crowd was stunned.

Ten more arrows!

In the crowd, Lin Yin's eyes gleamed.